A forgotten storage unit has yielded a treasure trove of 12 unreleased tracks Michael Jackson worked on between 1989 and 1991. Among them are songs like “Don’t Believe It,” a reflection on media scrutiny, and “Seven Digits,” inspired by morgue identification numbers.

There’s even a rap duet with LL Cool J titled “Truth on Youth.” As the man who uncovered the tapes put it: “To hear Michael Jackson actually talk and kind of joke back and forth, it was really, really cool.”

In a remarkable twist of musical history, a collection of previously lost Michael Jackson recordings from 1989 to 1991 has been discovered—entirely by accident. The tapes, some of which have never been heard by the public, were found in an abandoned storage unit in San Fernando Valley by 65-year-old Gregg Musgrove, a former police officer.

Musgrove stumbled upon the recordings while inspecting a storage unit recently purchased by a friend. The tapes originally belonged to singer and producer Bryan Loren, whose current whereabouts remain unknown. On several of the recordings, Loren’s voice can be heard speaking with Jackson, adding a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the King of Pop’s creative process.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the collection contains 12 fully recorded tracks from the period before Jackson released Dangerous, as well as snippets of other unreleased material. “I’ve gone to all the fan sites,” Musgrove told the publication. “Some of [the songs] are rumoured to exist, some of them have been leaked a little bit. A couple aren’t even out there in the world.”

The tapes provide more than just music—they offer insight into Jackson’s methods. In some recordings, he can be heard discussing the meaning behind songs and joking with Loren. Musgrove described the experience as “really, really cool” and said, “To hear Michael Jackson actually talk and kind of joke back and forth… I would get goosebumps because nobody’s ever heard this stuff before.”

Among the unreleased tracks are intriguing titles like Don’t Believe It, seemingly reflecting Jackson’s struggles with media scrutiny, and Seven Digits, a song referencing identification numbers on morgue bodies, explained on one of the tapes by Jackson himself. Perhaps most surprising is a rap duet with LL Cool J titled Truth on Youth, reportedly featuring Jackson rapping—a rare departure from his usual style.

Despite the excitement surrounding the discovery, the chances of these tracks ever being released are slim. The Jackson Estate confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that they do not own the rights to the tapes and that public release is not permitted. While Musgrove initially presented the tapes to the Estate, they did not acquire them, though they noted the recordings were not “new” and that the masters are already in their possession.

Currently, the tapes remain in storage under the supervision of Musgrove’s attorney. Plans are underway to take them to major auction houses next year, potentially offering collectors a rare piece of Jacksonian history—but likely ensuring that the music itself remains unheard by fans.

This accidental discovery serves as a fascinating reminder of Michael Jackson’s enduring influence, revealing never-before-heard facets of the creative genius behind the King of Pop’s iconic music.